This offseason, the Warriors have hired a new assistant general manager in Bob Myers and an advisor in Jerry West.

West was asked on Tuesday if he believes changes are necessary in order to improve the roster.

"I do think there's changes that need to be made here, I really do. And I know they do, in talking with them.

"And there's a lot of ways to make changes. You don't necessarily have to trade players sometimes, and you can sign free agents. And they have the ability to sign a free agent."

West was asked if the Warriors already have a great player.

"I think greatness is measured over a period of time. They'll take players and anoint them at a very early age. I always say you shouldn't judge a rookie until after his third year to see if he grows.

"I look at (Stephen Curry), for instance, I see tremendous growth in him as a player. Tremendous growth. But there's still more room for improvement and that improvement will come through experience.

"Monta Ellis, a fierce competitor. He competes his fanny off every night. Love to watch him to play. But to me, size helps. Size helps."

the last phrase kinda says it all...

I would definitely support a Monta Ellis trade if it's for a quality player in return...like Rudy Gay or someone around that level. a great scorer he is, the debate to me is whether a more balanced team with a maybe less dynamic scorer than Monta is, would be better than how the roster is now.

This offseason, the Warriors have hired a new assistant general manager in Bob Myers and an advisor in Jerry West.

West was asked on Tuesday if he believes changes are necessary in order to improve the roster.

"I do think there's changes that need to be made here, I really do. And I know they do, in talking with them.

"And there's a lot of ways to make changes. You don't necessarily have to trade players sometimes, and you can sign free agents. And they have the ability to sign a free agent."

West was asked if the Warriors already have a great player.

"I think greatness is measured over a period of time. They'll take players and anoint them at a very early age. I always say you shouldn't judge a rookie until after his third year to see if he grows.

"I look at (Stephen Curry), for instance, I see tremendous growth in him as a player. Tremendous growth. But there's still more room for improvement and that improvement will come through experience.

"Monta Ellis, a fierce competitor. He competes his fanny off every night. Love to watch him to play. But to me, size helps. Size helps."

the last phrase kinda says it all...

I would definitely support a Monta Ellis trade if it's for a quality player in return...like Rudy Gay or someone around that level. a great scorer he is, the debate to me is whether a more balanced team with a maybe less dynamic scorer than Monta is, would be better than how the roster is now.

I didn't read it that way. I kind of read it the other way... like they probably won't trade him unless there is size, and TALENTED size coming back. and then he said:

"And there's a lot of ways to make changes. You don't necessarily have to trade players sometimes, and you can sign free agents. And they have the ability to sign a free agent."

so.... i doubt they trade Ellis this season unless it is a spetacular deal. Rudy Gay, I like, but he way overpaid. Specially if the cap comes down next year. If we are going to spend $15 million on someone it better be a center. Because we have $12 already going to D. Lee, $9 to Beans, and then eventually we have to resign Curry and Wright (if they are not traded.

In fact, West even went a little further, suggesting a backcourt of Curry and Ellis might be able to thrive in the playoffs. Conventional wisdom has that backcourt being too weak defensively for the Warriors to ever become successful. West doesn't seem so sure.

"If you watch the playoff games, the difference in playoff games is you can't run an offense," West said. "You cannot run an offense. You need people who can create off the dribble, and both those kids can do it. And they are kids. I think you'll see them grow together, but again you would like more size."But not necessarily a big-time scorer. A role player might suffice

Read more: Steinmetz: West sees W's potential, seeks sizeTune to SportsNet Central at 6, 10:30 and midnight on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area for more on this story

So, yes size is needed, but adding some key role players instead of trading them may be the best way to get this team to the next level.

dude... if you watched his interviews, this guy basically says anything... if i wanted to, i could probably pull some of the things he say to infer that he believes in aliens or some ****... i watched a 40 minute interview with him, lacob, and guber and in half the questions.... he.... didnt really answer the questions...

he also made a reference to dallas and their backcourt saying how 3 of their top guards are about 6'2'', and that if they can do it so could we...

8th ave wrote:dude... if you watched his interviews, this guy basically says anything... if i wanted to, i could probably pull some of the things he say to infer that he believes in aliens or some ****... i watched a 40 minute interview with him, lacob, and guber and in half the questions.... he.... didnt really answer the questions...

he also made a reference to dallas and their backcourt saying how 3 of their top guards are about 6'2'', and that if they can do it so could we...

The difference is they have depth at the guard positions and Center, a matchup nightmare with Dirk, a PG who makes good decisions in J Kidd, athletic tall Center who play defense well in Chandler, and a long wing defender in Marion.

West knows how to build champions. If he say trade Monta, we should trade him. The man is a legend and should be heard. He will, in my opinion try to reshape the hole team. And frankly this is a good thing. And anyway, is it so hard to find a SG to score 20+ points if given 38+ minutes and don't play defense to worry that much if we lose Monta? I believe it is easy to find a 15+ points player with good defense and size om the market.

Monta is very much like Jason Terry. A lot of people thought Terry was a star player while he was in Atlanta, or at least one in the making. Who did they get for Terry? Antoine Walker and Tony Delk. Terry then found his niche as a 6th man in Dallas, where he offers instant offense off the bench. Monta is that kind of player and will probably be more of an asset off the bench than being a starter who plays 42 minutes a game. But Monta's ego would be a problem and he probably wouldn't except a bench role without throwing a fit, pouting and demanding a trade. Thats the kind of player he is and far from one that plays within the concept of a team. That was the main reason he slipped into the second round and it appears that the scouts have been right thus far. If you're worried about the money part of it, Jason Terry will actually make more than Ellis next season.

You guys are going a little overboard with the Monta hate ... comparisons to Jason Terry? A 6th man 3 point specialist compared to one of the most dynamic scorers in basketball today?

I think you would be quick to retract your statements once the team has some talent added to the front court... Monta isn't the problem... we have no wing defender which forces us to start a REAL 6th man type player in Dorrell Wright. Center & SF are our biggest needs. Lets solve those problems before we create new ones.

You may want to watch the Finals more closely. Terry is not a 3 point specialist. He can shoot the 3, but he's a 6'3 combo guard that can score. When he was younger, he was ultra quick and was pretty darn athletic. I guess you lose some of that when you're 34 years old. I've been watching Terry since he was at Arizona and have a big interest in PAC-10 players being a Cal alumni.

I'm not a Monta-hater. I just don't think there are many 6'3 shooting guards that can only score, that become star players in today's game. At $11M a year as well? Sorry, but he's not worth that kind of money for what he brings to a team. He doesn't offer defense, passing or rebounding. Guys that can score are a dime a dozen. Look at CJ Watson, who when Monta was out, scored 40 points in a game against the Kings.

TRON wrote:West knows how to build champions. If he say trade Monta, we should trade him. The man is a legend and should be heard. He will, in my opinion try to reshape the hole team. And frankly this is a good thing. And anyway, is it so hard to find a SG to score 20+ points if given 38+ minutes and don't play defense to worry that much if we lose Monta? I believe it is easy to find a 15+ points player with good defense and size om the market.

TRON wrote:West knows how to build champions. If he say trade Monta, we should trade him. The man is a legend and should be heard. He will, in my opinion try to reshape the hole team. And frankly this is a good thing. And anyway, is it so hard to find a SG to score 20+ points if given 38+ minutes and don't play defense to worry that much if we lose Monta? I believe it is easy to find a 15+ points player with good defense and size om the market.

oh so now he's hated for having to play 40 mins a game

There is time to see if Monta can be the main guy, because the FO is moving with Monta, Curry, and Lee as the core. Although Monta been in the league for awhile now and when he was given the big contract the team didn't flourish when he became the man for the team. The FO expects this team to be in the playoffs next season or whenever they play. If the team doesn't make the playoffs than the FO will be at a cross road to keep building on this core, or rebuild.

Beast Mode wrote:You guys are going a little overboard with the Monta hate ... comparisons to Jason Terry? A 6th man 3 point specialist compared to one of the most dynamic scorers in basketball today?

I think you would be quick to retract your statements once the team has some talent added to the front court... Monta isn't the problem... we have no wing defender which forces us to start a REAL 6th man type player in Dorrell Wright. Center & SF are our biggest needs. Lets solve those problems before we create new ones.